Will The New Apple 3G iPad Destroy All Chances For Auto Companies To Offer Their Own In Car Net Services?

When I sat in the new BMW 7-Series at the Paris Motor Show two years ago seeing the demo of the full internet running on it's nav screen, controllable through iDrive, I was as excited as a kid in a candy store.

Until my good friend and BMW PR Rep Tom Plucinsky told me that the FULL internet would only be available on European BMW's and the USA cars would only get a Google search capability.

THAT was some depressing news because the internet is in our blood and we don't want to be disconnected in the car.

So time passed and we read a number of articles saying many companies would soon have internet services in the car.

Well, that has yet to happen in the USA.

Until today.

But it's NOT from any auto company.

It's from Apple and it's on the the new iPad 3G.

I am actually sitting inside my car and I wrote the very article you are reading on it.

Of course, the car was parked and I wasn't driving but it was an amzing experience.

So it got me thinking...NO ONE will have a better solution than this.

NOT good news for any auto company building an in car internet solution.

About the only thing they can do now in my opinion is make an iPad connection kit and start getting bigger screens into the center stacks asap.

Do you agree?

Is it game over for them creating a new revenue stream selling net services?

Discuss...

*iPad dash holder pictured made by USBfever.








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Joe_Limon - 4/30/2010 9:56:23 PM

0 Boost

lolol, ya right after cell phones destroy hands free talking with speaker phone capability. Stupid article, but I won't hold anything against you for shamelessly promoting a company you've bought shares in.

Agent001 - 4/30/2010 10:23:06 PM

+2 Boost

Just my opinion Joe.

That's why I bought their shares.

No secret on Auto Spies that I like Apple.

Its even in my bio I'm a former Apple employee.

How cool is the iPad?

I'm sitting in a stadium watching mynsons Lacrosse game surfing AutoSpies.com!

001

KZ258 - 5/1/2010 12:21:20 AM

-1 Boost

LOL nice Joe_Limon

uaw_lax - 5/1/2010 4:06:07 AM

-2 Boost

009 just about everything you can do with an Ipad i can do with my HTC Hero swmart phone. The Ipad will flop sorry 8(

DaHarder - 5/1/2010 12:11:30 AM

+5 Boost

I've been comparing my iPad 64gb/WiFi + Verizon Palm Pre Plus Hotspot combo to my just received iPad 64gb/3g on AT&T and there's simply no comparison... The iPad Wifi + Verizon wins hands down at this point.

My iPad/3g + AT&T down-samples all videos (Netflix/YouTube) to the point that they're completely unwatchable, doesn't even play certain media apps (ABC for one) and the data transfer speeds are pretty pathetic so far.

As for any dreams of the iPad/3g causing any real waves in this sector, consider that the iPad is a rather big/awkward device to be mounting anywhere in one's vehicle, and Apple's choice of sticking with AT&T's already abysmal network appears to be a huge mistake.

So to answer your question: "Will The New Apple 3G iPad Destroy All Chances For Auto Companies To Offer Their Own In Car Net Services?"

I'm Going With - NO!

Patronus - 5/1/2010 1:51:53 PM

+2 Boost

This is not an immediate issue. The entire auto industry is years behind any kind of home/personal tech developments. Its laughable.

For example, just a few years ago some manufacturers still had cassette players. Many factory iPod integrations are jokes and do not even charge modern iPods. Most nav systems are pathetic compared to what you can get on a typical smart phone or a $150 dash-mount unit.

sstainba - 5/3/2010 10:02:33 AM

+2 Boost

The ipad will no more destroy in-car internet than the ipod destroyed radio. Really, it's a dumb question. Not everyone wants an ipad. I'd also like to point out that there is no need for in-car internet. And honestly, beyond google maps for navigation and possibly pandora or slacker for radio or the like - it's quite dangerous. We have enough stupid people wrecking now because they can't talk and drive at the same time.

Agent001 - 5/3/2010 1:11:02 PM

+2 Boost

Joe, Da, and the gang....

Apple today announced that it has reached one million iPads sold in the 28 days since the launch of Wi-Fi models in early April. iPad users have also downloaded over 12 million apps and over 1.5 million eBooks during that time.

"One million iPads in 28 days -- that's less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Demand continues to exceed supply and we're working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers."

DOH!

001

LACMAN - 5/3/2010 2:30:02 PM

0 Boost

YAWN... Car news guys. Car news. Why do you agents keep bringing up this Apple and iPad business?!?!

thstone - 5/4/2010 9:06:09 PM

+2 Boost

If a $600 consumer device takes $1,500 off the price of a car, it matters.

That being said, I don't think that the iPad will affect the sales of OEM nav or entertainment systems, but it will sure put the hurt on any kind of OEM internet service. Who's going to pay GM $20 a month for in-vehicle internet service when they can get it on an iPad and take it with them?